Newborn Challenges

Resuscitation: Due to the delay in seeking medical care for labor and delivery, many babies that are born at the health center require aggressive resuscitation including bag/mask ventilation.

Temperature Regulation: Newborns, especially low birthweight infants, are unable to regulate their body temperature and are at great risk of hypothermia, one of the leading causes of infant mortality in developing countries. This is especially true during the cooler, rainy season in Eastern Uganda.

Breast Feeding: A safe and effective way to improve nutrition and prevent childhood diarrhea.

Projects for Newborns

Newborn Resuscitation

During each visit, Newborn Resuscitation with hands-on instruction is reinforced. Susan Hill, CRNA has been instrumental in leading the trainings in that include midwives and medical staff at Magale HC4. This has expanded to 12 surrounding health centers in the Manafwa District.

Newborn Warming

The Newborn Warming Pilot Project was aimed at increasing awareness as well as encouraging temperature monitoring of the newborn. A “Thermospot” crystalline thermometer (photo right) that changes color according to temperature was used on each newborn delivered at the clinic. Charts are mounted on the walls next to patient’s beds showing how to “read” the infant’s temperature based on color changes. Mothers are given a hat and blanket as a reminder of the importance of keeping their babies warm. A special thanks to all the women at home in the US who supply all the hats and blankets.

Breast Feeding

Physician Assistant student from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA along with Charles from Magale lead the discussion on breast feeding. Midwives and Traditional Birth Attendants are key in helping new mothers understand the value of successful breast feeding.

Newborn Care

Oct. 2014. Dr. James Crawford leading one of the first newborn resuscitation clinics.